NEW YORK - Investigators in New York fear two shootings could mark the start of a mob war.

Rudolph "Rudy Cueball" Izzi, a member of the Genovese crime family, was found shot to death Thursday in his home in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, the New York Post reported. Detectives say two men forced their way into the house after Izzi answered the door Wednesday night.

On Tuesday, Robert DeCicco, a reputed associate of the Gambino family, was wounded about a mile away from Izzi's home. He was shot three times in the arm as he sat in his car.

A source in law enforcement described as a specialist in organized crime told the Post the two shootings must be connected.

"Nothing's happened here in a long time and now, back-to-back shootings right near each other," he said. "Is it retaliation for DeCicco? You hit one of ours, we hit one of yours. It can't stop here, especially if someone did this without permission."